Separating apparatus



April 19, 1932. B. JoRGENsEN 1,854,199

SEPARATING APPARATUS Fil'ed Dec. 3l, 1929 3 Sheets-Shay(l l d I.. @F11-M2 April 19, 1932. B. JoRGENsEN SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed neo.'

51, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 19 1932- v :B.JoRGENsEN 1,854,199

SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 31, 1929 s sheets-sheet s Fig. 3.

Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED .fs-raras PATENT f-FFiCE BERN-HARDT JORGENSEN, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED :SHOE

MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEN` JERSEY, A lvCOZBLPOZRA'IIOIN' OF JERSEY SEPARATING APPERAT'US The present invention relates .to apparatus tor separating .articles from .a .closely .placed series, it being pamticularly designed for thais4 .operating upon .sheets of material such .as 1.5 stacked insoles. l

Rubberized insoles for .use in making shoes fof the tennisor sneaker-type are xsuihciently adhesive so, after they have .ibeen .died .out and piled upon one another, it will require .appreciable effort :for the `operator Yto piek them apart to allow their utilization ina last- :ing operation. An object of my invention Eis to relieve .the operator from ,this drag upon his work., :the sheets being separated :automatically and .presented `to him one `by one. In achieving this object, I associate with .a .magazine or otherv holder for insoles 4er like sheet-articles to be separated, movable article-.separating -means provided with article- 20 engaging portions arranged for movement independently `of each other., with `one :of which portions article-supporting or ldirecting means :may be movable. -@ne of .the portions is guided in its movement, the guiding .and

retaining means permitting another portion' 'to move past and .aw-ay from it, .so the two may separate er move relatively to .each other. The separating means is .shown in .the IJform of .a com-pound iblade, the portions ot which adv-ance together to enter between adjacent sheets er articles, while .the angular separation of the *portionsr removes a sheet from the series in the hol-der. The .adjacent Asurf-aces of the blades may contact, and inclined outer surfaces .facilitate the entrance .of the compound member between the sheets. To accurately .determine the correct point of engagement ott-the separating .blade with the ser-ies of articles, there is a `gage member movable with the blade and arranged for contact with the sheets, preferably with the sid-e opposite that engaged by the blade .or separating means. .Inthe illustrative .eX- ainple of my invention her-.ein disclosed,the

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+S sheets .to be separated are stacked in a holder,

.anda carrier provided with .sepa-rating means is reciprocated .towardand from the stack,

r.and also similarly oscillated. The carrier maybe in the .form .of an arm, the reciproca- .tion .of which inserts .a blade between the fsheets .and withdraws it, be'ing produced by the .oscillation yof .an actuating lever, While the .oscillation .of said carrier relatively .to

Vthe actuating lever separates the blade-portions and .thus-.asheet from thestack.` A desirable arrangement .of the :apparatus duplicates the separating meangthese being respectively situated adjacent to spaced supn ports in the magazine lfor the sheets. This engagement .of the .articles to be separated .a .plurality .of points .better .distributes the applied oiices so :said articles fare more :symmetrically positioned upon delivery.

Oneof .the several embodiments which the invention may assume is illustrated .in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is .a :top Vplan View .of my improved separating apparatus;

. Fig.2, avert-ical transverse section `.through the magazine Vand .associated separating ele ments, the latter being their .normal position; Aand v Y l Fig. 3, a View similar toflig 2 but with the elements in their final delivering position.

The insoles S or other articles to be separated .are carried in `a magazine M upon the .top fof .a base l0. This magazine is sho-wn as tori-ned in two end-sections, eachhaving vertical V-shaped Walls 12, which engage and ret-ain between them the heeland toe-ends, respectively, of the insoles. Each orf these walls l2 rises from a foot-plate lhwhich is secured by a vslot-ancl-screw connection 16 to a mounting-plate 18. .Screws and thumbnuts Y 20, together with -dowel-pins 22, attach the mounting-,plate to the base, and permit the magazine as a whole to loe removed readily `and one containing insoles ofanother size substituted. The connections at 16,16 allow individual magazines to be .adjusted li'or any size of insole by a change in the distance between their sections. At the lower portion of each wall l2, near the diverging extremities of the V, is a cross-rod 24, upon which the endportions of the bottom insole of the contained stack rest. These supports leave between them a space alined with an opening in the top of the base, through which the bottom insoleS may be successively removed from the stack.

Extending horizontally between opposite sides of the base, at its top and at the rear of the magazine, is a cross-bar 26, from which extend horizontally bars 28, 28 having slots.

adapted to guide the ends of a spindle 30.l F ree to turn upon the spindle, respectively in planes at the inner sides of and adjacent to the supports 2li, 24, are two carrier-arms 32, 32. On the upper tace of each arm, which is normally held horizontal by connections which will later be described, is the lower portion 34: of a compound separating blade. The upper portion 36 of each blade rests upon the lower, and at its outer extremity has lugs 38, through openings in which passes the spindle 30. The width of the portion 36 of each compound blade is such as to engage a considerable length of the insole near the corresponding support 24. The portion 3d is narrower than this, to permit it to move toward and from its companion, while the latter is retained by engagement with its under side near the edges. The adj acent faces of the blades are parallel and in contact, this contact-plane lying, in its normal position, substantially in alinement with the meeting plane of the two lowermost insoles in the stack, while the outer or operating portions ot the blades are inclined, converging toward the magazine, the upper portion extending beyond the lower. lThis relation produces a thin edge upon the separating member readily entering between the stacked insoles, the eXtension of the upper blade beyond the lower supporting the weight ot the stack during the separating movement and minimizing the tendency of the point of the companion blade to catch upon the sheets.

The portions of the separating blade are caused to first travel forward together horizontally with the arm 32 to enter between the two lowest sheets in the magazine, and are then moved about the axis of the spindle to separate the lowest sheet from the body ot the stack and deliver it. ln the latter action, the blade-portion and the carrier-.arm move together, while the portion 36 is restrained from following, remaining .raised to uphold the stack between the supports 2-l and resist downward displacement during the removal of the terminal sheet. These movements are produced in the ollowin manner To advance the arms with the blade-portions together, the spindle 3() between the lugs ot each blade-portion 36 is engaged by the slotted upper end of an arm l0 forming a part of a lever L movable in planes between the supports 24, these two arms being' tast upon a spindle Ll2 rotatably mounted transversely of the base. A. depending arm d ot the lever has upon it a roll, which is held by a spring a6, connecting a short arm i3 of the lever to the base, against the periphery ot a cam 50. This cam is secured. to an actuating shaft 52 journaled horizontally in the base and driven through sprocket-gearii g reducing-gearing 56 from a motor 53. hand-pad .60 may be provided to govern, through connections (ill, a single-rotation clutch 62 controllably transmitting power to the actuating" shaft. The ctlect ot the cam upon the lever L is to reciprocate the spindle 30 from one end of the slots in the bars 2S the other, imparting a corresponding bodily movement to the arm and the separating` blade. To separate the lower blade-portion 3d with the carrier-arm from the upper blade-portion 36, Aeach carrier-arm has projecting from it an actuating arm 66, and between the two arms 66 extends a rod 68. rlhis rod, near its center, is joined by a link in to a bell-crank lever 74 arranged to turn upon the spindle 42. A roll on the lower arm ot the bell-crank is urged by a spring` 7G, joining the other arm to the base, against the periphery ot a. cam 7S fixed upon the actuating shaft 52. rlhus this cam is caused to oscillate the arms 32 and with them the lower bladeportions 34 toward and from the bottoni ot the stack in the magazine and in a direction generally longitudinal thereof.

Initially, the blades, with their portions in contact, are carried horizontally by the lever L under the intluence of the cam 50, the cam 78 being at this time without effect. Shortly after this travel begins, a roll 80, carried by each arm 32 in advance of the corresponding blade, comes into contact with the lower rear edge of the bottom insole in the magazine and forces its way beneath this. This determines the vertical relation of the upper tace ot the sheet near its edge, and therefore the location of this face with respect to the reduced edg of the blade, which is secured to the carrierarm at a denite distance from the roll 80. In this way, the correct entrance of the blad-e between the adjacent sheets is secured. Since the articles operated upon may vary in thickness, the vertical position of the upper gaging surface of the rolls is made adjustable, each of these turning about an eccentric-stud 82, the angle of each eccentric being capable ot' alteration by rotating the stud in its arm 32. This is accomplished by an adjusting arm 84 projecting from the stud and provided with a locking pin 86 capable of entering any one of a series of openings 88 in the arms. As such llaccid articles as insoles may sag' between the magazine-supports 24, 24, especially as the number in the stack decreases, a

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supporting shelf 89 Jfor the central portion ot said stack is carried at the forward end of each arm just in advance ot the roll 80. The adjacent edges of the` shelves are situated in close proximity to each other, nearly bridging the open space at the bottom of the magazine. The upper supporting surface of each shell' preferably lies slightly below the upper gaging surface of its roll 80. Because of this prevention oir' sinking oit the bottom of the stack materially below the gaging surface, relatively slight resistance is oered to the passage of the gage-rolls beneath the sheet to be separated. Thus, location of the point ot the compound blade in the plane between the adjacentsheets and its ready entrance along said plane are assured. The blade having` been forced between the sheets under` the n influence of the cam 50 and lever L, the cam 7 8 comes into action, and, by the bell-crank lever 7l and its connections, begins to swing the arms down about the spindleBO. The blade-portions 34, lixedto the arms, oscillate with them, drawing down from the magazinesupports '24 the bottom sheet, above which it has been inserted. ln so doing, each bladeportion 34 passes between retaining and guiding members in the form `of rolls 90, 90 turning upon the arms of a yoke 92 depending from the bar 26. During the .horizontal travel .of the blade, the surface 93 at the under side of the yoke may serve as a guide for the upper blade-portion 36, contact therewith during the approach of the blade to the stack accurately directing said blade in its entrance between the sheets. Each bladeportion 36, first descending from the surface 93 with the companion portion, strikes at its edges upon the rolls 90 and is so held thereby Vthat it continues its reCiprOcatOry-mOvement in a substantial v horizontal pl ane. Thus it maintains the body of the stack against downward displacement under the separating action of the associated bladeportion 34. l prefer to provide for the adjustment ofthe yoke 92 with the rolls 9G so the movement of the blade-portion 36 may be in the des d plane. For this purpose, each yoke is movable vertically upon the bar 26 by a screw 94 threaded through the center of said yoke, with its head resting upon the upper surface of the bar, while two screws 96, 96 threaded into the bar and bearing up on the yoke, lock the elements in their adjusted positions. As the detached lower sole leaves the stack under the inlluence o' the bladeortions 3l, it rests not only upon the gagerolls v80, but also on rounded upward protuberances or bosses 98 upon the arms at the outer or rear sides of the rolls; t is Vthus first supported in a substantially horizontal position. rlhen, as the arms swing .down (Fig. 3) about the spindle V30, the separated sole slides over the bosses and rolls and is directed by the shelves 89 to an inclined chute 10() leading to the open front of the base. The delivering end of the chute is divided and has spaced upturned lugs 102, 102. These retain the delivered sole so it may convoniently be grasped and removed by the op- .1.

erator. Instead of producing the separation Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by -Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. In a separating apparatus, a holder for articles to be separated, movable article-separating means provided with article-engaging portions arranged for relative mov-ement in.-

dependently of one another, and a support tor a separated article, said support sharing in the separating movement. 1

2. ln a separating apparatus, a holder for articles to be separated, separating means movable toward and from the holder, said separating vmeans having portions movable together into engagement with the articles and movable'relatively to one another to`1separate the articles, and directing means for, `a

se aarated article, said directing means being movable with one of the separating portions.

3. In a separating apparatus, a holder for articles to be separated, article-separating.

means movable toward and from the holder, said separating means having portions movable together into engagement with the articles and movable lrelatively to one another to separate for one of the portions, ,saidl means permitting another portion to move past and away from said retaining means.

. In a separating apparatus,a` holder for articles to be separated, article-separating l.,

means movable toward and from the holder, said separating means having portions movable vtogether into engagement with the articles and movable relatively to one another to separate the articles, ing means, and means arranged to vary the relation of the guide to tl e holder. g

5. In a separating apparatus, a holder tor articleswto be separated, sepa-rating .means movable toward and from the holder, said separating means having portions movable together into .engagement with the articles and Ymovable relatively to one another to separate the articles, and a guide for the separating means, said guide having means ar- .-1

ranged Vto retain oneot the portions in en.- gagement with an article at the holder and to permit another portion to move away from the holder in effecting the separat-ion.

G.. ln a' separating apparatus, a holder for the articles, and retaining means Y a guide for the separat- M roo articles to be separated, an article-separating blade having plural portions, means for moving the blade toward and from the holder, means for moving the blade-portions relatively to change their angular relation, and an article-support movable angularly with a blade-portion.

7. In a separating apparatus, a holder :tor articles to be separated, article-sep 'ing means movable toward and from the liolc said separating means having portions movable together into engagement with the articles and movable relatively to one another to separate the articles, and a member movable with the lblade and arranged for contact with the articles in the holder.

8. In a separating apparatus, a holder for articles to be separated, article-separating means movable toward and from the holder, said separating means having portions movable together into engagement with the articles and movable relatively to one another lto separate the articles, a gage member n'iovable with the blade and arranged for contact 7ith the articles in the holder, and means arranged to vary the relation or' the gage member to the blade.

9. In a sheet-separating apparatus, a holder for a stack of sheets, a carrier movable toward and `from the holder, sheet-engaging members mounted upon the carrier to enter between adjacent sheets, and means for separating the members on the carrier to remove a sheet from the stack.

l0. In a sheet-separating apparatus, aholder for a stack oi sheets, a carrier movable toward and from the holder, sheet-engaging members mounted upon the carrier to enter between adjacent sheets, said carrier having a gage-surface arranged for Contact with the side of a sheet being separated opposite that engaged by the members, and means Jfor separating the members on the carrier to remove a sheet from the stack.

ll. In a sheet-separating apparatus, a holder for a stack of sheets, a carrier movable toward and from the holder, sheet-engaging members mounted upon the carrier to enter between adjacent sheets, a gage member mounted upon the carrier and arranged for Contact with the sheets, means arranged to vary the normal relation of the gage member to the sheet-engaging members, and means for separating the members on the carrier to remove a. sheet from the stack.

12. In a sheet-separating apparatus, a holder for a stack of sheets, a movable carrier provided with sheet-engaging means, means Jfor reciprocating the carrier toward and from the stack, and means for oscillating the carrier toward and from the stack.

13. In a sheet-separating apparatus, a holder for a stack of sheets, sheet-engaging means, means for moving the engaging means between sheets in the stack, and means for moving the engaging means longitudinally of and away from the stack.

14. In a sheet-separating apparatus, a holder for a substantially vertical stack of sheets, a movable carrier provided with sheet-engaging members, means for moving the carrier in a substantially horizontal direction to cause the entrance of the members between sheets in the stack, and means for moving the carrier in a substantially vertical direction to separate a sheet from the stack.

l5. In a sheet-separating apparatus, a holder for a stack of sheets, a movable carrier provided with sheet-engaging means, means for reciprocating the carrier into and out of co-operation with the holder, and means for oscillating the carrier with respect to the holder.

16. In a sheet-separating apparatus, a holder for a stack of sheets, a movable carrier provided with a plurality o1c Sheet-engaging members, one ont the members being movable on the carrier, means for moving the carrier to ett'ect engagement of the plural members and the sheets, and means for moving the carrier with a portion of the members to separate a sheet from the stack.

l?. In a sheet-separating apparatus, a holder for a stack of sheets, a movable carrier provided with a plurality of sheet-engaging members, one of the members being movable on the carrier, means for moving the carrier to eitect engagement of the plural members and the sheets, means for retaining a portion of the members in engagement with the stach, and means for moving the carrier with an engaging member to separate a sheet from the stack.

18. In a sheet-separating apparatus, a sheet-magazine, an oscillatory actuating member, a carrier movable by the actuating member and arranged to oscillate relatively thereto, and a sheet-separating blade mounted upon the carrier and movable thereby into engagement with the sheets in the magazine.

19. In a sheet-separating apparatus, a sheet-magazine, an oscillatory actuating member, a carrier movable by the actuating member and arranged to oscillate relatively thereto, and a compound sheet-separating blade mounted upon the carrier and movable thereby into engagement with the sheets yin the magazine, said blade having a portion lined to the carrier and a portion movable thereon.

20. In, a sheet-separating apparatus, a sheet-magazine, an oscillatory actuating member, a carrier movable by the actuating member' and arranged to oscillate relatively thereto, a sheet-separating blade mounted upon the carrier and movable thereby into engagement with the sheets in the magazine, and a guide against which the forward movement oit the carrier forces the blade.

2l. In a sheet-separating apparatus, a

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seitige sheet-magazine, an oscillatory actuating member, a carrier movable by the actuating member and arranged to oscillate relatively thereto, a sheet-.separating blade mounted upon the carrier and movable thereby into engagement with the sheets in the magazine, a guide against which the 'forward movement of the carrier forces the blade, and means arranged to vary the relation of the guide to the sheets in the magazine.

22. n a sheet-separating apparatus, a sheet-magazine, an oscillatory actuating member, a carrier movable the actuating member and arranged to oscillate relatively thereto, a compound sheet-separating blade mounted upon the carrier and movable thereby into engagement with the sheets in the magazine, said blade having a portion xed to the carrier and a portion movable thereon, the movable portion being wider than the fixed portion, and means retaining the wider portion and permitting the passage of the fixed portion.

23. In a sheet-separating apparatus, a sheet-magazine, an oscillatory actuating member, a carrier movable by the actuating member and arranged to oscillate relatively thereto and having a gage-surface for contact with the sheet to be separated, a sheetseparat-ing blade mounted upon the carrier and movable thereby into engagement with the sheets in the magazine, and a guide against which the forward movement of the carrier forces the blade. Y

Q4. ln a sheet-separating apparatus, a sheet-magazine, an oscillatory actuating member, a carrier movable by the actuating member and arranged to oscillate relatively thereto, a sheet-separating blade mounted upon the carrier and movable thereby int-o engagement with the sheets in the magazine, and a gage member adjustable upon the carrier and arranged for contact with the side opposite the blade of a sheet to be separated.

25. ln a sheet-separating apparatus, a magazine provided with spaced supports 'for the sheets, sheet-separating means at the bottom of the magazine adjacent to each support, a gage member movable with each separating means, and a sheet-support movable with each separating means and gage member and situated beneath the magazine.

26. ln a sheet-separating apparatus, a magazine provided with spaced supports for the sheets, a carrier movable toward and from the magazine at the inner side of each support, a sheet-separating blade mounted upon each carrier, and a sheet-supporting shelf projecting from each carrier in advance of the blade.

27. ln a sheet-separating apparatus, a magazine provided with s aced supports for the sheets, a carrier movab e toward and from the magazine at the inner side of each support, a sheet-separating blade mounted upon treni te@ Stack- 29, nV an insole-s g1-tor, magazine fpr stacked insoles, a ly ci, `CO,jOL'er-'atiiigl theiewith, a carrier-arm pivotally"connected to the lever, a compound separating blade having a portion pivoted upon the carrier-arm and a portion fixed to said arm, means for oscillating the lever to -force the blade between insoles in the stack, means for oscillating the carrier to separate the fixed bladeportion from the pivoted portion, and a retaining guide for said pivoted portion.

30. In an insole-separator, a magazine provided with spaced supports for the ends of stacked insoles, a lever fulcrumed in a plane between the supports, a carrier-arm pivotally connected to the lever,y a compound separating blade having a portion pivoted upon the carrier-arm and a portion fixed to said arm, means Jfor oscillating the lever to force the blade between insoles in the stack, means for oscillating the carrier to separate the iiXed blade-portion from the pivoted portion, a retaining guide for said pivoted portion, and means arranged to adjust the guide longitudinally of the stack.

3l. In an insole-separator, a magazine provided with spaced supports for the ends of stacked insoles, a lever fulcrumed in a plane between the supports, a carrier-arm pivotally connected to the lever and situated below the stack, a separating blade mounted upon the carrier, a gage member mounted upon the carrier below the blade and arranged to contact with the under side of the bottom insole in the magazine, means for oscillating` Vthe lever to force the blade between insoles in the stack, and means for oscillating the carrier-arm relatively to the lever to separate an insole from the stack.

32. In an insole-separator, a magazine provided with spaced supports or the ends of stacked insoles, a lever iulcrumed in a plane between the supports, a carrier-arm pivotallyV connected to the lever and situated below the stack, a separating blade mounted4 upon the carrier, a gage member mounted upon the carrier below the blade and arranged to contact with the under side of the bottom insole in the magazine, an eccentricmounting for the gage member, means for oscillating the lever to force the blade between insoles in the stack, and means `for oscllatng the carrier-arm relatively to the lever to separate an insole from the Steck.

33. In an insole-separator, a magazlne pror vided with spaced supports for the ends of stacked nsoles7 a lever fulcrumed in a plane at the inner side of each support, a carrierarm pvotally connected to each lever below the stack, ay separating blade mounted upon each carrier-arm, a shelf extending from each It arm in advance of the blade. and toward the opposite arm, and means for oscillating the levers and arms.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

BERNHARD'I JORGENSEN. 

